Package sealing implement



March 1, 1955 J. H. PAYTON PACKAGE SEALING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 11, 1953INVENTOR. jo/zzz 1?. Payfazz United States Patent PACKAGE SEALINGIMPLEMENT John H. Payton, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 11, 1953, Serial No. 336,259 Claims. c1. 154-42 Myinvention relates to packages contained in heatadhesive wrappers, andmore particularly to means for sealing the latter. Ordinarily, a heatedobject is applied with an ironing movement to seal and press thepackage, but the movement of the sealing device often snarls, fracturesor deforms the materials of the closing flaps of the package due tofriction, so that an unsatisfactory closure or damaged package is made.In view of this disadvantage, it is one object of the present inventionto provide an implement which may be used both as a sealer and pressWithout disarranging or fracturing the closing flaps of the package.

A further object is to design the novel implement in the manner of ahand tool or appliance which may be moved continuously over the packagebeing sealed with facility and without friction, whereby to improve andexpedite the handling and sealing of such critical wrapping films asPliofilm, acetates, polyethylene, or the like.

Another object is to construct the novel implement in a manner to applya heated endless tape into contact and engagement with the package andretain the tape in stationary contact with the latter without frictionwhile the heated implement is given a sliding motion over the same.

Another object is the elimination of friction between the contactingsurfaces of the sealing implement and the package which preventsdisturbing the printed matter usually present on packaged Wrappers.Thus, the smearing of ink, which usually occurs where friction-typesealing irons are used, will be avoided.

An additional object is to design the novel implement along lines ofcompactness and simplicity.

With the above objects in view, a better understanding of the inventionmay be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 isa side elevation of the implement;

Fig. 2 is an enlargement of the main portion thereof, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawingindicates the body portion of the implement at 10, the same being in thenature of a housing. The latter has top flanges 11 for the support of asuperimposed hood 15, the latter having side flanges 16 which aresecured to the top flanges 11 by screws 18.

The housing receives an electric heating unitnot shownto which currentis supplied by means of a cord 20 which leads into a handle 21 carriedby the hood 15. The latter contains a heat control-also not shownthesame being actuated by a knob 22.

The effect of the heating unit and its control is to bring the housing10 up to a temperature which is suitable for sealing and pressingheat-adhesive wrapping material. However, the housing is not applieddirectly to such material, but through the agency of a base 25 whosesides 26 are secured by bolts 27 to the sides of the housing 10. Theheat in the latter is therefore transmitted to the base 25.

As noted in Fig. 3, the base 25 is slightly separated from the bottom ofthe housing 10; also, Fig. 2 shows clearly that the base 25 is anelongated plate whose ends are rounded, as indicated at 30. An endlesstape 31 is Wrapped longitudinally over the base and in slightly looserelation to the same. Thus, when the appliance is slid or run lengthwiseover the workas suggested in Fig. 1the base 25 will lay the tape 31 overthe work in caterpillar form and without movement or friction betweenthe tape and the work. Obviously, the heat in the appliance and thepressure exerted on it will seal 2,703,133 Patented Mar. 1, 1955 thepackage whatever its length may be, and press the closing flaps downneatly. The tape is heat-resisting, nonporous, and of a hard-finishedmaterial.

In addition to the working function of the novel appliance it will beappreciated that its small size and portability enable it to be used atany point of application. In other words, the work need not necessarilybe on a table or held down, but may be on any surface or even held inthe hand; and it is conceivable that the appliance will seal and pressany object which receives a heatadhesive covering or closure in anyposition. The modification of Fig. 4 is a stationary unit designed forattachment to a support in any desired position. The work is intended tobe applied to the unit, and the latter therefore has a larger surfacethan the article shown in Fig. 1. The bottom plate 25 is deflected atone side as shown at 35 to form a lead for the advance of the work ontoand the engagement thereof with the outer run of the tape 31. Smallpackages can thus be sealed and pressed with dispatch by being appliedwith a lateral pressing movement to the tape-exposing side of the unit.

An appliance is thus had which renders the sealing and pressing of workof the type under consideration an easy task capable of beingaccomplished by inexperienced persons, and that the appliance is anarticle which is made of few parts, facilitating its production on aneconomical basis.

While I have described the invention and its modification along specificlines, various other changes or refinements may be made therein withoutdeparting from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all suchchanges and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An appliance for pressing and sealing heat-adhesive wrappers and thelike comprising a member adapted to be heated, a plate attached inheat-conductive and spaced relation to the member, and an endless tapelooped around the plate, the outer surface of the tape being applicableto the work and rolled into nonfrictional contact with the same as theappliance is moved relative to the work or the latter is moved relativeto the appliance.

2. An appliance for pressing and sealing heat-adhesive wrappers and thelike comprising a member adapted to be heated, a plate attached inheat-conductive and spaced relation to the member, and an endless tapelooped around the plate, the outer surface of the tape being applicableto the work and rolled into nonfrictional contact with the same as theappliance is moved relative to the work or the latter is moved relativeto the appliance.

3. An appliance for pressing and sealing heat-adhesive wrappers and thelike comprising a housing adapted to be heated by an internal heatingunit, an external plate attached in heat-conductive and spaced relationto the housing, and an endless tape looped around the plate,

.the other surface of the tape being applicable to the work and rolledinto nonfrictional contact with the same as the appliance is movedrelative to the Work or the latter is moved relative to the appliance.

4. An appliance for pressing and sealing heat-adhesive wrappers and thelike comprising a housing adapted to be heated, an external plateattached in heat-conductive and spaced relation to the housing, and anendless tape looped around the plate with fiat runs along the inner andouter sides of the plate, the outer run of the tape being applicable tothe work and rolled into nonfrictional contact with the same as theappliance is moved relative to the work or the latter is moved relativeto the appliance.

5. The structure of claim 1, end loops of the tape sliding over endportions of the plate, and such end portions being rounded to facilitatethe smooth travel of said end loops.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

